From Rising Star to Master in the Field

Q:The Implant and Aesthetic Academy, which you cofounded 20 years ago, is internationally renowned as a postgraduate training facility. To what do you attribute its success?

A:I think it's the passion, the honesty, and the real wish to teach everything and not hold back. It’s about giving everything and not being scared that someone's going to be better than you and, in fact, celebrating when they're better than you. That is the key factor. It's also the enjoyment of watching other people rise, and nurturing youth and anyone who is looking to improve and grow. Another factor is that we don’t teach about a specific brand, even though I have brands that I’m loyal to. We teach concepts, not brands, and that is part of what makes us successful.

Q:You've been a valued live presenter and online contributor for DentalXP for many years. When did you first become involved with them?

A:I gave a lecture in Barcelona and Dr. Henry Salama came up to me afterward and said he really enjoyed it, and he asked if I would be interested in lecturing for DentalXP in the future. Being a nobody from South Africa, I was like, “Let me think about that. OK, yes to that!” It was not even a debate.

And then I did an online lecture on the palatal bone block and sent it to them, and Maurice and David, who I hadn't met yet, watched the lecture. David then called me and said, “Hi, this is David Garber." I'm like, “Wow, David Garber is greeting me.” That is a surreal situation for any young periodontist, especially in South Africa, because David is probably the most famous of any South African-exported dentist. He said, "Maurice and I listened to it and what a cool lecture. We really like it." Obviously, I was walking on clouds for weeks after that. And then I lectured at the very first DentalXP symposium in 2013. It was just supreme to get there and meet all these people in person. What an incredible experience.

Q:What is unique about the live events held by DentalXP?

A:They have a saying, "Always inclusive, never exclusive." I think that's what makes it unique. It's not an old boys club, like a lot of societies. They bring in people from all around the world who are absolutely talented, yet there is no ego. It's not like, "Look at me.” It's more like, "Hey guys, this is something that I'm doing. What do you think about it?" I've been coming to DentalXP for years, and of all the conferences I go to, they are always the best because they always have that sense of family and that sense of fun. It's very special and unique in that way.

Q:Do you find that the education is for everyone or just for more experienced dentists or specialists?

A:It's for everybody. It covers every aspect of dentistry, including every specialty. It's not just perio or implants—it's everything from prosthetics to veneers to endo. And you see young and old, new and experienced, and the super-experienced. They all come and they all learn. I consider myself fairly experienced at this point in time and, whenever I go, I listen to every lecture and I always walk away richer. And what's even cooler is you get to rub shoulders with all these other experts and really get the deep insights of your peers. It's like a boiling pot of knowledge, and it's really cool to kind of just go and sit in that pot and stew a little bit.

Q:What is your advice to new dentists coming up today?

A:My advice is to seek out mentors who can stimulate you and help you grow. Never stop learning. And to steal a line from Dr. Christian Coachman, “Always have a beginner's mind.” Because an expert mind is one that is closed off, and a beginner's mind is one that absorbs everything. Keep growing and don't lull yourself into a false sense of security, because that's when you get stagnant. If you keep growing, you will remain passionate and keep loving what you do.